Portable electric flashlight

ABSTRACT

A portable electric flashlight in which the light-carrying head is connected by a flexible conductor cable to a power source within a case, the power source being controlled by a switch and the case having a loop for the reception of the belt of a person carrying the case, the light-carrying head being capable of being confined in the case in the upper portion thereof and the case being provided with a flap for closing the case when the lightcarrying head is confined therein.

United States Patent 1 Williams, Jr.

[ PORTABLE ELECTRIC FLASHLIGHT [76] Inventor: Edgar L. Williams, Jr., 20015 Michigan, Apt. 22B, Chicago, 111. 60616 [22] Filed: Mar. 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 127,565

[52] US. Cl. ..240/l0.6 R, 240/6.4 W, 240/ 10.63,

240/59 [51] Int. Cl. ..F21l 7/00, F211 15/14 [58] Field of Search ..240/10.6 R, 10.63, 240/6.4 W, 59, 52.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,601,595 8/1971 Kivela ..240/10.6 R 1,959,979 5/193 4 Gunderson .240/l0.6 R 1,996,577 4/1935 l-lumeston ..240/ 10.6 R

[ 51 May 22,1973

2,071,557 2/1937 Miyaoka..... ..240/10.6 R 2,230,458 2/1941 Hummert.... ..240/10.6 R 3,201,580 8/1965 Moore ..240/10.6 R

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser Assistant Examiner-Joseph W. Roskos Att0meyEdward C. Threedy [57] ABSTRACT A portable electric flashlight in which the light-carrying head is connected by a flexible conductor cable to a power source within a case, the power source being controlled by a switch and the case having a loop for the reception of the belt of a person carrying the case,

the light-carrying head being capable of being con-.

fined in the case in the upper portion thereof and the case being provided with a flap for closing the case when the light-carrying head is confined therein.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures 1 PORTABLE ELECTRIC FLASHLIGIIT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is to provide a light-carrying head connected by a conductor cable to a power source within a case the construction of which permits the same to be conveniently carried at a persons side by suspending the case from a belt worn about the persons body, the case being removably connected to the belt to permit the person to hold the case with the light-carrying head therein, away from the body, such as at arm s length therefrom, or, in the alternative, to remove only the light-carrying head from the case, for illumination purposes.

This and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the preferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention suspended from the belt of the user, with the light-carrying head being held in extended relation with respect thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the invention detached from the belt;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention with the carrying case in closed position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the light-carrying head extended from within the case, with the case in open position;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein the preferred form of construction is illustrated, the carrying case is indicated at 10.

The case 10 is substantially elongated in form and includes a bottom wall 11 and a top or cover flap 12. From the back wall 13 of the case 10 extends a tab 14 providing an open loop 15 for the reception therein of a portion 16 of a belt 17 embracing the wearer 18.

The tab 14 includes a pair of fastening elements 19 of well-known construction, which facilitate connecting the case to the tab 14, permitting the case to be attached to and detached from the tab 14 as and when desired. By unfastening one of the elements 19 and leaving the remaining element 19 in fastened condition, the case may be pivoted in various positions with respect to the body of the user.

The cover flap l2 and bottom wall 11 of the case 10 are connected by fastener elements 21 to the front wall 22 of the case 10. In one of the side walls indicated at 23, there is mounted a conventional toggle switch 24, which is connected to one of the lines 25 of a retractible flexible coiled cable 26 and by a conductor 27 to a terminal 28 of a power source 29, which, in the present instance, is illustrated in the form of a dry cell battery. The other line 30 of the cable 26 is connected to the other terminal 31 of the power source 29.

The power source 29 may, if desired, be in the form of flashlight batteries, such as the miniature type, thus correspondingly reducing the size of the case 10 to accommodate the same.

Connected to the outer end portion of the cable 26 in any suitable manner is a conventional lamp socket confined within a head 32. Such socket receives an electric bulb 33 in a manner well known in the art.

The light-carrying head 32 is best shown in FIG. 4 and may include a clip 34 for the purpose of clipping the head 32 to a wall of the case 10 or to any portion of the clothing of the user, or the like, thus leaving the hands of the user free, if desired.

In one use of the invention, the case is suspended from the belt 16 of the user, as shown in FIG. 1. To project the light-carrying head, the operator opens the cover flap 12 by unfastening the element 21, grasps the head 32 and withdraws the same from the case 10, which enables him to hold the light-carrying head in any projected position permitted by the expansion of the cable 26. It is pointed out that the user may hold the housing a distance from his body to the full length of the cable 26, thus placing the light in an area at a distance from his body for safety purposes, such as in police work, thus avoiding placing his body in the line of gunfire.

In another use of the invention, the user may detach the case 10 from its supporting tab 14 and hold the case 10 in his hand, as shown in FIG. 2.

The invention is particularly useful to officers of the law, the militia, guards, repair men and the like.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A portable flashlight including a. a case of a size to house a power source, a lamp housing and a flexible connector therebetween and having a flap type top wall for closing the same,

b. said case providing a belt loop for receiving a belt therein so as to attach said case to the person,

c. a pair of snap fastener elements for detachably mounting said belt loop to said case so that the latter may be removed therefrom, said snap fastener elements being separably detachable so that one of said snap fastener elements serves as a pivot for the case,

(I. a power source carried in said case and including a switch,

e. a lamp housing including an electrical bulb, and

f. a flexible conductor extending from the lamp housing connecting said electric bulb in circuit with said switch and said power source so that said lamp housing may be remotely positioned from said case. 

1. A portable flashlight including a. a case of a size to house a power source, a lamp housing and a flexible connector therebetween and having a flap type top wall for closing the same, b. said case providing a belt loop for receiving a belt therein so as to attach said case to the person, c. a pair of snap fastener elements for detachably mounting said belt loop to said case so that the latter may be removed therefrom, said snap fastener elements being separably detachable so that one of said snap fastener elements serves as a pivot for the case, d. a power source carried in said case and including a switch, e. a lamp housing including an electrical bulb, and f. a flexible conductor extending from the lamp housing connecting said electric bulb in circuit with said switch and said power source so that said lamp housing may be remotely positioned from said case. 